Liverpool’s best walking routes have been revealed in a new book by a tour guide turned teaching student at Liverpool Hope University.
Primary PGCE student, Claire Rider, co-authored Liverpool’s Hidden Walks, which has been released by Harper Collins – one of the world’s largest book publishers - as part of A-Z Maps Hidden Walks series.
Featuring 20 routes in and around the city, the handy guide includes lesser-known circuits that allow you to explore Liverpool in a new light and includes an array of facts that will help locals and tourist alike learn more about the area.
A Blue Badge Tourist Guide – the highest rank in the profession – Claire swapped careers when the industry ground to a halt during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She began studying at Hope in September 2022, combining the first two months of her course with completing the book and, whilst she admits that proved challenging, it’s a decision she doesn’t regret.
“Harper Collins approached me out of the blue in May last year,” explained the 53-year-old mature student, who launched the book at an event in Waterstones Liverpool ONE.
“I was just about to start my PGCE and I thought I can’t possibly do it because I needed to write 25, 000 words. It was an enormous undertaking but then I thought nobody is going to ask me to do this again so I had to go for it.
“For the first two months of my PGCE I would get up at 5am to work on the book and then go to university.
“It was really hard but to have a book published is really exciting and I’ve got no regrets.”
A Nottingham native, Claire considers herself an adopted Scouser having lived in Liverpool for more than 30 years and cites the Slavery Walk and the Faith Walk as her favourites in the book.
She spent six years as a tour guide after more than a decade as a marketing manager at National Museums Liverpool but is now eagerly anticipating a career as a teacher once she completes her training at Hope.
“My tour guiding business completely collapsed in COVID so when schools reopened after lockdown I became a teaching assistant in a primary school,” Claire added.
“I enjoyed it and thought I could do this.
“I worked with a Hope student who was on placement in the school and she was absolutely outstanding. I was so impressed by her that when I decided to a PGCE I thought it has to be at Hope and I have loved it so far.
“I am learning new things and developing in so many areas I am interested in so it feels like I’ve made the perfect decision.”
Liverpool's Hidden Walks is priced at £7 and is available to buy now from Harper Collins and various other book shops.